Loose-leaf binder



G. A. oLsEN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. 19, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l LSWLZ l s 1M; guy G. A. oLsl-:N

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. 19, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ufff my 8, wm., 1500,682

G. A. OLSEN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. 19. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 15 the name of a firm or person to be rae @hl HQE.

` l`- 1="` 0F CVHCAGQO, ILLHG'OIS, ASISIGNQR TO CCOUNTING DCE GE- Pm, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS, A CORPORATION F ING.

LGOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application tiled December 19, 1923. Serial No. 681,571.

10 larly to be used to hold sheets for a visible `record le. In this the sheets are placed one above the other, each sheet uncovering a portion of the bottom of the sheet below so as to permit identifying indicia such as placed thereon. By this arrangement, which in general is well known, all the bottoms are exposed and these are usually arranged in al habetical order.

en it becomes necessary to remove one of the record sheets from the center of a series, it is customary to lift the sheets above that one, remove it and replace the sheets above it, stepping them all. down one space 25 so as to keep the line of visible edges unbroken as before.

The primary object of this invention is to rovide suitable means for attaching the ont and back covers to the centre frame 3 0 which when closed locks the ,record sheets in place.

This and other objects as will later appear are accomplished by this invention which is fully described in the following 3e specilication and shown in the accompanyin drawings in which:

Figure 1 1s a partial front inside elevation of the file open; V

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on the lines 10 2 and 3 of Fig. 1;

Fi 1i vis a partial perspective of a backI memoer removed;

Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of a section of a channel-member and of a bar;

45 Figs. I and 8 are partial perspective views of binding strip and padding strip respectively;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is a partial section on the line 5o 10-10 or Fig. 9;

5@ rre en;

Fi 13 is a artial section on the line 13 o Fig. 1 and) Fig. 14 is a partial section showing a modified form of hinge.

The loose-leaf binder as illustrated comprises two channel-like members 11 and 12 hingedly connected by a longitudinal hinge pin 13 which preferably runs the length .of the members 11 and 12.

These members have meetin parallel flanges 11a and 12 as shown in lgig. 11. A clamping bar 14 is slidably mounted within the member 12. and has ears 15 extending through registering openings 16 in the flanges 11a and 12, The bar 14 is normally held in the position as shown in Fi 1 by means of a tension spring 17 (Fig. 2 and theears 15 having ledges 15' which snap over the sides of the openlngs 16 due to the action of the sprin 17. The end 14 oi' the bar 14 extends eyond the member 12 so that the operator by pressing inwardly on the end 14a will cause the ears 15 to be moved to releasing position, when the members 11 and 12 can be swung about the lingel?, to full open position as shown in back member 18 having ends 19 is iitted about each of the members 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 9, and is secured thereto in any suitable way as by means of ton es 20 (Fig. 13) which are adapted to be Fg t over and into'the openings 21 in the members 11 and 12.

Padding strips 22 are secured to the outer -v flanges of' the channel members 11 and 12 by means of metal binding strips 22n which have tongues 22" struck therefrom which extend through openings 22 in the padding strips 22 and corresponding openings 11m in the outer Hanges of the members 11 and 12, and are bent over. To the padding stri 22 is pasted a strip 22d of flexible materia as cloth or leather which is pasted to a cover 24. 1n the same way the outer strip 23 of cloth or leather is secured to the back covers 24 and 25 and to the hinged central members. The channel shaped member 11 has a bar 26 slidably mounted in guides 27 within its outer Hanges. A series of equally spaced prongs 28 is secured to the bar 26 and these project through openings 29 at the corner ci the member 11. These slots or openings 22 are preferably oitD a length which will permit the entire series of prongs 23 to he moved up a distance equal to one-fourth the spacing between adjacent prongs for 'a purpose which will be later explained.

A similar set of prongs 28a is similarly mounted in the member 12 and these are likewise movable a distance one-fourth the spacing between the prongs 28 and 28, or equal to one-halt` the spacing between yadjacent prongs 28 and 28a.

Wlth both the series of prongs drawn down to the lower end of the slots 29 as shown in Fig. 1 the two series are interlocked with an equal spacing ybetween adjacent prongs. These prongs are made arcuate as shown 1n Figs. 9 and 10, the are of all being equal and being swungabout the center of the hinge pin 13. i

These prongs are adapted to receive record sheets 30 which have equally vspaced holes 31 which are in alignment with the edge of the record sheet 30 and which are spaced a distance apart equal'to one-fourth the s acing of the prongs 28, or one-half the distance between adj acentprongs 28 and 28.

These sheets are known as visible record sheets for the reason that they are placed on the prongs one above the other so that a portion 3()n of each sheet is visible and upon which identifying indicia such as the names of' firms and individuals may be placed.

To remove one of these sheets the back 1s opened as shown in Fig. 10 and the desired sheet together'with those that lie above it is then strlpped off the prongs 28a. To replace the sheets above the one removed it is necessary to move them all down a distance equal to the spacing of the openings 31. This is accomplished by this device as follows. Having partially opened the binder, so that the prongs 28 are completely disengaged from the holes 31, the bar 26 is pushed up as far as the slots 29 will permit. The sheet to be removed and those 1yingabove it are then removed over on the prongs 28 and the binder fully opened, these sheets meanwhile being carried upon the prongs 28. The sheet to be removed is then taken o" the bottom,v

the prongs 28 drawn back to their normal osition as shown in Fig. 1 when the back 1s again brought to a closed position as shown in Fig. 9. The space created by the sheet which was removed will be closed.

To insert a sheet the pile of sheets is rst drawn to the left hand side, the prongs 28 withdrawn until they clear the pile of record sheets, when the prongs 28a can be slid. up as far as the openings 29HL will permit. The pile of record sheets is then opened at the desired point and moved over on the prongs 28, the binder then fully opened with these sheets still on the prongs 28a. The new sheet is then inserted on the prongs 28a and the binder again closed with the new sheet inserted in the proper place.

For the purpose of moving the bar 26 a lug 32 secured thereto extends through an opening 33 in the web-of the channel member. By pressing on this lug 32 the bar 26 may be moved up or down.

A ledge 34 is provided in the members 1l and 12 adjacent the outer ends ofthe prongs 28 and 28a so as to prevent the record sheets working od the ends of these prongs.

In Fig. 14 is shown a modied form in which the met-al back 18n has a metal hinge 18", commonly known as a piano hinge, by which the cover 241.a is attached.

It is to be understood, of course, that the record sheets shown constitute only one of several series of such sheets held by a single binder, each series being preferably separate from the next adjacent series by a large spacer sheet which is substantially the size of the binder.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes therefore in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as vbroadly as possible in view of theprior art.

I-claim:

1., .A loose-leaf binder eomprisin in combination, eo-acti'ng channel and shag members, each channel-shaped mem hinged to a like member and each L-'shaped member yenclosing the o en back and ends of its co-acting channel-s aped member, one of each of said co-aeting members having openings, the other thereof having tongues inserted 1n' said openings and bent to retain `the izo-"acting members together, and front and back covers hingedly connected to said L-shaAped members.

2. loose-leafbinder comprisin in ecmbination, co-acting channel and -shaped members, each channelshaped member hinged to a like member and each L-shafped member enclosing the open back and ends of its eo-acting channel-shaped member, one of each of said co-aeting members having openings, the other thereof having tongues inserted in said openings and bent to retain the co-'acting members together, front and back covers hingedlyconnected to said L- shaped members, and a covering of flexible material extending across and back of said L-sha ed members.

3. loose-leaf bindenr comprising in combination, co-acting channel and L-sha d members, each channelshaped member hinged to a like member and each L-shaped member enclosing the open back and ends to retain the eo-actng members together, front and back covers connected to said L- shaped members, and a covering of flexible material extending across and back of said L-shaped members from front cover to back cover.

4. A loose-leaf binder comprising in combination, co-acting channel and L-shaped members, each channel -shaped member hinged to a like member and each L-shaped member enclosing the open back and ends of its co-acting channel-shaped member, one of each of said (ro-acting members having openings, the other thereof having tongues inserted m said openings and bent to retain the co-acting members together, a padding strip. means for securing said padding' strip to one of said L-shaped members, a cover, and flexible material for connectingsaid cover to said padding strip.

5. A loose-leaf binder comprising a pair of channel-shaped members associated with two flanges incontact and directed toward the rear of the binder, the edges of said contacting Hanges hingedly connected t0- gether, L-shapedmembers having end closures and one associated witheach channelshaped member with one flange of each closing the open back of one of said channelshaped members, and the end flanges closing the open ends of the channel-shaped members, the remaining` flanges in Contact with the free flange of each of the channel- .shaped members, tongues projecting from the inner edges of the last named langes of the L-shaped members, bent to enter open- .ings in the adjacent channel-shaped members, a paddingI strip in contact with a lateral flange of each L-shaped member. flat members having tongues extending through openings in said remaining llanges and bent to retain the parts together, and covers hingedly secured to said padding stri s.

GEORGE A. OLS N. 

